My oldest boy took his first buck last year on opening day with a 788 in .308. That's the nicest thing I can say about the rifle.
I got it cheap with a broken stock, I basically felt obligated to rescue it. With a synthetic replacement on it I have about $200 in it. I put an old Burris Fullfield II on it, got a great deal on it when the US made scopes were on closeout, the scope cost more than the rifle.
Terrible magazine design, poor trigger, cheap "saturday night special" bottom metal and a plastic safety - the bargain deer rifles we have today are MILES ahead. Speaking of which, oldest boy has a lefty Ruger American 308 for this year's deer season. 788 is back to the safe as a loaner rifle.
OP you're fixing to spend $600 on a rifle to shoot bugholes, step back and think about it again.